A BOOST FOR SPACE COMMUNICATIONS SATELLITES For its first launch of the year, Arianespace will orbit two communications satellites: ASTRA 3B for the Luxembourg-based operator SES ASTRA, and COMSATBw-2 for Astrium as part of a contract with the German Ministry of Defense. The choice of Arianespace by leading space communications operators and manufacturers is clear international recognition of the company’s excellence in launch services. Because of its reliability and availability, the Arianespace launch system continues to set the global standard. Ariane 5 is the only commercial satellite launcher now on the market capable of simultaneously launching two payloads. Over the last two decades, Arianespace and SES have developed an exceptional relationship. ASTRA 3B will be the 33rd satellite from the SES group (Euronext Paris and Luxembourg Bourse: SESG) to have chosen the European launcher. SES ASTRA operates the leading direct-to-home TV broadcast system in Europe, serving more than 125 million households via DTH and cable networks. ASTRA 3B was built by Astrium using a Eurostar E 3000 platform, and will weigh approximately 5,500 kg at launch. Fitted with 60 active Ku-band transponders and four Ka-band transponders, ASTRA 3B will be positioned at 23.5 degrees East. It will deliver high-power broadcast services across all of Europe, and offers a design life of 15 years. Astrium chose Arianespace for the launch of two military communications satellites, COMSATBw-1 and COMSATBw-2, as part of a satellite communications system supplied to the German Ministry of Defense. The first satellite in this family, COMSATBw-1, was launched by Arianespace in October 2009. COMSATBw-2 will be the 34th military payload lofted by Arianespace For the first time, the German Ministry of Defense now deploys its own satellites in a secure network for voice, data, fax, video and multimedia transmissions. It chose the company MilSat Services GmbH, a joint venture of Astrium Services and ND Satcom, as prime contractor. Astrium, the European leader in civil and military communications satellites, is prime contractor for the space segment, comprising the two satellites supplied by Thales Alenia Space, based on the Spacebus platform and an Astrium paylod. COMSATBw-2 will weigh about 2,500 kg at launch and has a design life of 15 years. Its footprint covers an area extending from the Americas to the Far East. 1 - The ARIANESPACE mission 2 - Range operations campaign: ARIANE 5 3 - Launch countdown and flight events 4 - Flight Trajectory 5 - The ARIANE 5 launch vehicle 6 - The ASTRA 3B satellite 7 - The COMSATBw-2 satellite Appendix 1. Flight Key personnel 2. Launch environment conditions 3. Synchronized sequence 4. ARIANESPACE, its relations wich ESA and CNES Follow the launch live on the internet broadband at www.arianespace.com 1 (starting 20 minutes before lift-off) 1. Mission profile The 194th Ariane mission will place two communications satellites into geostationary transfer orbit: ASTRA 3B for the Luxembourg-based operator SES ASTRA, and COMSATBw-2 for Astrium as part of a contract with the German Ministry of Defense. This will be the 50th Ariane 5 launch The launcher will be carrying a total payload of 9,116 kg, including 7,971 kg for the two satellites, which will be released into their targeted orbits. The launch will take place from Ariane Launch Complex No. 3 (ELA 3) in Kourou, French Guiana. Injection orbit Perigee altitude 250 km Apogee altitude 35,786 km at injection Inclination 3° degrees Following additional checks, Arianespace has decided to restart the final countdown for its mission with the ASTRA 3B and COMSATBw-2 satellites. Liftoff of the Ariane 5 launcher is now set for the night of Friday, May 21, as early as possible in the following launch window: Launch opportunity Universal time (GMT) Paris time Kourou time Washington time Between 10:01 pm 12:01 am 7:01 pm 6:01 pm and 10:44 pm 12:44 am 7:44 pm 6:44 pm on May 21, 2010 May 22, 2010 May 21, 2010 May 21, 2010 Configuration of Ariane payload The ASTRA 3B satellite was built by Astrium in Toulouse, France for the operator SES ASTRA. Orbital position: 23.5° East The COMSATBw-2 satellite was built by Thales Alenia Space in Cannes, France, for Astrium, within the scope of a contract with the German Ministry of Defense. Orbital position : 13.2° East For more information, visit us on www.arianespace.com 2 3. Launch countdown and flight events The countdown comprises all final preparation steps for the launcher, the satellites and the launch site. If it proceeds as planned, the countdown leads to the ignition of the main stage engine, then the two boosters, for a liftoff at the targeted time, as early as possible in the satellites launch window. The countdown culminates in a synchronized sequence (see appendix 3), which is managed by the control station and onboard computers starting at T-7 minutes. If an interruption in the countdown means that T-0 falls outside the launch window, then the launch will be delayed by one, two or more days, depending on the problem involved, and the solution developed. Time Events – 11 h 30 mn Start of final countdown – 7 h 30 mn Check of electrical systems – 4 h 50 mn Start of filling of main cryogenic stage with liquid oxygen and hydrogen – 3 h 20 mn Chilldown of Vulcain main stage engine – 1 h 10 mn Check of connections between launcher and telemetry, tracking and command systems – 7 mn 00 s “All systems go” report, allowing start of synchronized sequence – 4 mn 00 s Tanks pressurized for flight – 1 mn 00 s Switch to onboard power mode - 05,5 s Command issued for opening of cryogenic arms – 04 s Onboard systems take over – 03 s Unlocking of guidance systems to flight mode HO Ignition of the cryogenic main stage engine (EPC) ALT (km) V. rel. (m/s) + 7,0 s Ignition of solid boosters 0 0 + 7,3 s Liftoff 0 0 + 12,5 s End of vertical climb and beginning of pitch rotation (10 seconds duration) 0.085 36 + 17 s Beginning of roll manoeuvre 0.335 75 + 2 mn 20 s Jettisoning of solid boosters 67.0 1986 + 3 mn 09 s Jettisoning of fairing 106.5 2219 + 7 mn 41 s Acquisition by Natal tracking station 176.0 5500 + 8 mn 55 s Shut-down of main cryogenic stage 173.3 6916 + 9 mn 01 s Separation of main cryogenic stage 173.3 6943 + 9 mn 05 s Ignition of upper cryogenic stage (ESC-A) 173.3 6945 + 13 mn 31 s Acquisition by Ascension tracking station 153.0 7600 + 18 mn 21 s Acquisition by Libreville tracking station 182.0 8400 + 23 mn 03 s Acquisition by Malindi tracking station 450.0 9080 + 24 mn 45 s Shut-down of ESC-A / Injection 633.2 9372 + 27 mn 40 s Separation of ASTRA 3B satellite 981.5 9081 + 31 mn 01 s Separation of Sylda 5 1761.5 8494 + 33 mn 21 s Separation of COMSATBw-2 satellite 2248.9 8164 + 49 mn 50 s End of Arianespace Flight mission 6400 6088 For more information, visit us on www.arianespace.com 3 4. Flight trajectory of ASTRA 3B & COMSATBw-2 The launcher’s attitude and trajectory are totally controlled by the two onboard computers, located in the Ariane 5 vehicle equipment bay (VEB). 7.05 seconds after ignition of the main stage cryogenic engine at T-0, the two solid-propellant boosters are ignited, enabling liftoff. The launcher first climbs vertically for 6 seconds, then rotates towards the East. It maintains an attitude that ensures the axis of the launcher remains parallel to its velocity vector, in order to minimize aerodynamic loads throughout the entire atmospheric phase, until the solid boosters are jettisoned. Once this first part of the flight is completed, the onboard computers optimize the trajectory in real time, minimizing propellant consumption to bring the launcher first to the intermediate orbit targeted at the end of the main stage propulsion phase, and then the final orbit at the end of the flight of the cryogenic upper stage. The main stage falls back off the coast of Africa in the Atlantic Ocean (in the Gulf of Guinea). On orbital injection, the launcher will have attained a velocity of approximately 9372 meters/second, and will be at an altitude of about 633 kilometers. The fairing protecting the ASTRA 3B et COMSATBw-2 spacecraft is jettisoned shortly after the boosters are jettisoned at about T+189 seconds. Standard Ariane 5 trajectory for geostationary transfer orbit For more information, visit us on www.arianespace.com 4 5. The Ariane 5-ECA (Industrial prime contractor: ASTRIUM SpaceTransportation) 50.5 m SYLDA - Internal structure (ASTRIUM Space Transportation) • 7 versions (height: 4.9 to 6.4 m • 400 to 530 kg Fairings (RUAG Space) • 17 m • Mass: 2.6 t ACU - Payload adapters (2) (RUAG Space) • 160 kg each approx. Vehicule equipment bay (ASTRIUM SpaceTransportation) • Height: 1.13 m • Mass: 950 kg H14,6 • Flight control system, safety, etc ESC-A - Cryogenic upper stage (ASTRIUM Space Transportation) HM-7B (Snecma) • Height: 4.71 m • Thrust: 67 kN max (in the vacuum) • Mass: 19 t • 945 sec of propulsion EAP - Solid Rocket boosters (ASTRIUM Space Transportation) • Height: 31.6 m • Mass: 278 t approx... MPS - Solid Rocket motor (Europropulsion) H173 • Average thrust: 5060 kN EPC - Main cryogenic stage • Maximum thrust: 7080 kN max (in (ASTRIUM Space Transportation) the vacuum) • 31 m long • 130 sec of propulsion • Mass: 188.3 t P240 Propellants (in ton) at H 0 H: Cryogenic Vulcain 2 Engine (Snecma) P: Solid • Thrust 1390 kN • 540 sec of propulsion 780 tons total mass at lift-off 13.000 kN at Lift-off (at H0 + 7 to 8 sec) For more information, visit us on www.arianespace.com 5 6.